Woman Loses Home Over Unpaid Bill, Then Sees It Flipped for Nearly $1M

A late payment cost a North Carolina woman her family home—and now she wants to warn others. Taylor Sanders, a Charlotte-area homeowner, says one missed payment led to her Homeowners Association (HOA) claiming her property. While she believed she owed about $400 in dues, the HOA records claimed the amount was higher.

“They said it hadn’t been paid for a year,” Sanders told WSOC TV. She did not receive any notices about the unpaid balance until April 2021, when the HOA sent her a letter saying she owed $1,200 and that they would foreclose on her home.

The loss was devastating for Sanders and her children. Even more painful was what happened next: her home was sold for just $49,000, and less than six months later, the buyer flipped it for more than $850,000.

HOA fees are meant to cover maintenance of common areas, such as landscaping, snow removal, and pool upkeep. But for Sanders, a single mistake led to a financial disaster.

Now, Sanders is speaking out in hopes of preventing similar losses for other families. “Oh my God. It’s devastating for my children. I don’t wish this on anyone,” she said. “This is just the beginning. I want to educate other people. I want them to know their rights.”

Sanders hopes that by sharing her story, more homeowners will understand the importance of keeping up with their HOA payments and know what steps to take if problems arise.